Ava and Liam

meeting♡

Liam Jessy walked through the corridor with his two childhood friends, Noah and Mike.

The three boys were well known throughout River Bank School. To most students, they were the mysterious trio rumoured to be involved in underground fighting.

Noah was the joker of the group. He played for the school football team and was also one of the top academic performers.

Mike, on the other hand, excelled in co-curricular activities but constantly struggled with his studies.

"Did you watch the match last night?" Noah asked excitedly.

"And did you see how Vini scored that goal?" Mike added, enthusiastically acting out the celebration.

"It was a tough match," Liam replied with a grin.

"But their team is on another level," Mike continued.

"I know. With Mbappé, Bellingham, Arda..." Liam's sentence was cut short when a small figure suddenly bumped into him.

Instinctively, he reached out and caught her before she could fall.

A girl.

His heartbeat stumbled.

Her hands were the softest and warmest he had ever touched.

She quickly withdrew them before brushing a few curls behind her ear.

Liam forgot how to breathe.

Brown eyes, almost hypnotic in their intensity, met his. A small, straight nose sat perfectly above soft, heart-shaped lips that shimmered beneath the corridor lights.

Someone cleared their throat.

Liam reluctantly snapped back to reality, silently cursing whoever had interrupted the moment.

His eyes briefly wandered over her school uniform—a neatly pressed red blazer, a black blouse, and a black skirt that reached mid-thigh.

"Were you looking for something, girly?" Noah asked with his usual bright smile.

"S-Sorry... I'm looking for Room 203," the girl replied, clearly intimidated by the three tall boys standing before her.

Even her voice...

It was soft, gentle, almost angelic.

"No worries," Mike said warmly. "We're actually heading there ourselves."

Liam remained silent, watching the exchange while leaving the talking to his two endlessly chatty friends.

"I'm Ava Maalin," the girl introduced herself.

"Oh! You're new?" Noah asked, scratching the back of his head.

Ava nodded.

"Perfect timing," Noah said cheerfully. "Come with us."

As Noah casually placed a hand on Ava's shoulder, Liam shot him a glare before smacking the back of his head.

"Ow!" Noah rubbed the sore spot as his hand immediately slipped off Ava's shoulder.

"Grumpy sir," he mumbled under his breath.

Ava couldn't help but giggle.

The sound made Liam's lips curve into another smile.

As they continued walking, Noah started a light conversation. Ava answered politely, telling them about her previous school while carefully avoiding its name. She wasn't ready for people to judge her because of where she had come from.

Her soft laughter echoed through the corridor.

Liam hadn't stopped smiling since she'd bumped into him, a sight that left several passing students staring in disbelief.

"Wait," Ava suddenly said. "I never got your names."

Mike pointed to himself.

"I'm Mike."

He gestured to his friends one by one.

"That's Noah... and the grumpy one is Liam."

Liam rolled his eyes while Noah burst into laughter.

For the first time that morning, Ava smiled without forcing it.